The UCA Bears track and field teams arrived at the University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Invitational ready to compete and left with an assortment of personal and school records to show for it. 

The two-day invitational — hosted at the John Jacobs Track Complex — began on Friday, April 14, with field and multi-events from both the men’s and women’s teams, and continued on Saturday, April 15, with more field and track events. 

Placing ninth in the men’s hammer throw, freshman Aidan Patton shattered his own UCA record with a personal record throw of 54.92m (180-2.0).

“Breaking a record always feels good,” Patton said. “But the goal is to keep getting better, and if a broken record comes along with that, then all the better.”

Along with his record-breaking hammer throw, Patton also placed fifth in the shot put with a personal record throw of 16.31m (53-6.25). 

Patton said he prepares for meets through his training with Coach Ryan Davis. “I usually try and focus on one-on-one time with my coach to ensure we can work out as many kinks before Meet Day as possible. That could mean throwing 10 times or 30 to 40 times at practice.”

Like Patton, the UCA track and field teams are no strangers to hard work, proven by their performance at the Sooner Invitational.

“I think overall this meet was good for most of the team,” Patton said. “Even if it wasn’t, it was still a very competitive meet that gave all of us experience of running or throwing at a bigger meet like the Sooner Invitational.”

In field events, sophomore Miranda Nichols placed 14th in the women’s hammer throw, achieving a personal record throw of 38.30m (125-8.0). In the men’s javelin, freshman Luke Stringer also pulled out a personal record, throwing a 49.27m (161-7.0) and landing himself in seventh place in the event. He also placed 17th in men’s shot put with a throw of 12.73m (41-9.25).

In women’s shot put, sophomore Kiara Williams finished 18th with a throw of 12.87m (42-2.75) and Miranda Nichols landed right on her heels at 19th place with a throw of 12.69m (41-7.75). 

Parker Benefield, a junior, placed fourth in the men’s pole vault with a jump of 4.60m (15-1.0). 

Junior Natalie Louw competed in the women’s long jump, bypassing her personal record with a jump of 5.62m (18-5.25), and finishing in 14th place. 

Track and Field Coach Josey Weaver is content with the team’s performance at the meet. “We are leaving the meet with numerous PRs and two new school records. I believe we still have some work ahead of us, but I like where we are right now at this point in the season,” Weaver said. The Bears broke two school records, earned 16 top-10 finishes and set 19 personal records, according to UCA Sports. 

Contributing to the success of the team, junior Ayana Harris placed first in the women’s hurdle prelims with a time of 14.02, followed by senior Kayla Scott in the same heat, who placed fourth with a personal record time of 14.55. 

In the men’s 110 m hurdles, sophomore Preston Barker placed eighth, earning himself a qualifying time of 15.51. In the women’s 100 m prelims, senior Z’Kiah Kuykendall finished 11th with a personal record time of 12.08. Junior Kendelle McCoy finished 14th with a 12.143, junior Ciara Tucker finished 15th with a 12.148, and freshman Indiyah Aldridge finished 21st with a time of 12.894.

As for the men’s 100 m prelims, senior Wesley Suen finished 18th with a 10.68 time and freshman TyJuan Huffman finished 29th with a 10.87.

In terms of recruiting, Weaver said they are focusing on depth. “As for our team now, we just have to continue to take care of ourselves as we get closer to championship season. The healthiest team at the ASUN Champs will hold the advantages,” Weaver said. 

This week, the men’s and women’s track and field teams will take on the Virginia Challenge at the University of Virginia on April 20-22, and the Red Wolf Invitational at Arkansas State on April 21-22. 

“We are splitting our team up between two meets,” Weaver said, of the Virginia Challenge and Red Wolf Invitational. “These two meets allow us to compete our entire team at two locations that benefit each group. The goal will be to see improvement and to compete well in each event.”